Rapid-fire gun



W. F. WATKINS.

RAPID FIRE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.191s. RENEWED SEPT-2, 1919.

1,337,971 Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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I INVENTOR MLLMM f7. MZ/fl/VS Mam , ATTORNEY W. F. WATKINS.

RAPID FIRE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 191.8.

RENEWED SEPT. 2,1919.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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INVENTOR Mu MM f: Mrm/vs aJ gW ATTORN EY w. FQWATKINS.

RAPID FIRE GUN. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, I918. RENEWED SEPT.2,1'919.

Patented Apr. 20, 19 20.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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RAPID FIRE GUN. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1911s. RENEWED sEPT.g.1919.

1 ,3,971 Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

- '4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

6 I v 6? INVENTOR Mum/w F. Warm/vs ATTORNEY WILLIAM F. WATKINS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO H. B. PERENE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RAPID-FIRE GUN.

Application filed July 5, 1918, Serial No. 243,291.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. VVATKINs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King, State of 'Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Rapid-F ire Guns, of which the following 1s a clear and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rapid fire guns and the principal Object of the invention is to provide a gun using ammunition of relatively large caliber, with simple, practical and efiicient means for automatically feeding the projectiles into firing position at rapid intervals under the predetermined disposition of the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means to dispense with the usual operation of inserting and ejecting each shell by providing a novel breech mechanism comprising a plurality of divided breech blocks arranged in endless series which are actuated transversely to the longitudinal axis of the gun and arranged to load, fire and discharge the shells in continuous synchronismp A further object of the invention is the novel provision of means for supplying projectiles of relatively large size to the gun by mounting the same in a flexible band.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel cooling devices for the gun barrel, whereby either water or air may be selectively used as a cooling agent.

A still further object is to provide a gun that will not necessitate the provision of brass shells of the usual type but will op erate efiiciently with shells of large caliber that are made from a fibrous composition.

Other objects and advantages of my improved gun will be evident and will bereferred to hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of a plurality of divided breech-blocks arranged in endless series together with actuating mechanism therefor and 'devices for presenting and conveying the ammunition thereto automatically. The invention further consists in the novel arrangement combination and adaptation of parts and devices for effectively accomplishing the purposes above setforth, as will be fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.20, 1920. Renewed September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,263.

and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a gun constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation, certain parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a view of the gun substantially in vertical mid-section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line l4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the ends of two ammunition belts constructed in accordance with this invention illustrating the manner of forming loops in the ends of the belts so that they may be connected together by using a shell or cartridge as a key; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the end of one of the belts.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, the numeral 1 designates a breech frame of rigid and substantial form of construction that is keyed upon a horizontal pivot bar 2 that is j ournaled in two upright spaced lugs 3 011 a movable carriage 1.

'The bottom of the carriage 4 is formed with a longitudinally disposed slot 5 having two inwardly directedtongues 6 as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 that adapts it to slidably fit over a T-shaped trackway 7 on the top side of a block 8 that is mounted for rotation on a pin 10 that projects up wardly from a fixed base 11.

From the above description it will be seen that the breech frame 1 is adapted to be tilted into various inclined positions on the carriage t while the carriage 4 is movable lengthwise of the block 8 and the block 8 together with the carriage 4: and breech frame 1 are rotatable in a horizontal plane on the fixed base 11.

The breech frame 1 is provided on its front side with an internally threaded opening that is adapted to have the externally threaded breech end of a gun barrel 12 screwed thereinto.

The gun barrel 12 is provided with a concentric rifled bore 12 of the usual form to permit the outward passage of a projectile and is further provided on its peripheral portion with a plurality of integral spiral ribs 13' between which are formed grooves 1 1 through which a cooling agent as air or water may circulate.

Several separate spiral ribs 13 are preferably formed on the periphery of the barrel 12 so that several separate passageways 14 for the cooling agent are provided.

The spiral ribs 13 present substantially the appearance of large screw threads when viewed in side elevation and such ribs not only serve to transmit heat but also serve to greatly strengthen the gun barrel 12.

15 indicates a tubular jacket that fits snugly around the peripheral portion of the ribs 13 and is internally threaded at its inner end to screw over an externally threaded boss 16 on the breech frame 1.

17 is a manifold water inlet that is adapted to fit over the tubular jacket 15 and screw over an externally threaded boss 18 on the breech frame 1.

The manifold 17 is provided with an annular water circulation passageway 19 that is connected with a suitable water inlet pipe 20 and communicates with the spiral passageways 14 through intersecting holes 21 and 22 that are drilled in the boss 18 and the boss 16, respectively, the holes 22 being sub stantially parallel with the axis of the gun barrel while the holes 21 are inclined so that they intersect the holes 22.

The manifold 17 is provided at a plurality of points on the outer face thereof with screw plugs 23 that may be removed to permit the inlet of air when no water can be obtained.

24 is a cylindrical jacket of substantially the same diameter as the jacket 15 that is connected with the outer end of the jacket 15 by a coupling 25, and 26 is a water outlet manifold that is securely held in engagement with the muzzle end of the barrel 12 by being clamped between the ends of the cylindrical jacket sections and 24.

r The manifold 26 has a concentric bore 27 that registers with the bore 12 of the gun barrel and an annular water passageway 28 that is connected with a water outlet pipe 30 and communicates with the spiral passageways 14 through openings 31. The outer face of the manifold 26 is provided with a plurality of removable screw plugs 32 that may be taken out to open air passageways when the water cooling system is not in use.

The breech frame 1 is provided near its top end with two oppositely directed sets of outwardly projecting arms 33 and 34 within the outer ends of which are journalcd bearing pins or shafts 35 and 36, respectively, upon which are mounted sprocket wheels 37 and that carry a continuous chain 40.

The breech frame 1 is provided at a distance below the arms 33 and 34 with two other pairs of outwardly directed arms 41 and 42 within which are journaled shafts or pins 43 and 44, respectively, upon which are mounted sprocket wheels 45 and 46 that carry a continuous sprocket chain 47.

The sprocket wheel 38 is adapted to be rotated by a crank arm 48 on the end of the shaft 36 to drive the chain 40 and the sprocket wheel 46 is adapted to be rotated in unison and at the same speed as the sprocket wheel 38 by a gear wheel 50 that meshes with another gear wheel 51 of the same size that is secured on the shaft 36. If desired the crank 48 may be removed from the shaft 36 and placed on the shaft 44 and the same driving relation maintained. Also it will be evident that any suitable form of actuating mechanism may be utilized to impart motion to said sprocket wheels and the associated chains.

Articulated with the sprocket chains 40 and 47 by means of pivot pins 52 are a plurality of blocks 53 that are each recessed on the outer face so that the chains 40 and 47 will be flush with the outer surface of each block and will not project outwardly therefrom.

The blocks 53 are secured on the chains 40 and 47 at regularly spaced intervals so that when the chains are straightened out in passing from one sprocket wheel to the other the faces adjacent the blocks will be in contact with each other.

The blocks 53 are each provided on one side with a longitudinally extending recess 54 that conforms substantially to the external shape of one half of the shell that is to be used.

\Vhen two of the blocks 53 are placed together face to face so that the recesses 54 register they form a movable breech block while the recesses 54 form a suitable cartridge chamber for the reception of a shell.

The blocks 53 are arranged so that, as the crank arm 48 is turned and the chains 40 and 47 moved at the same rate of speed the blocks on the opposite chains will. come together face to face and the recesses 54 will exactly register as shown in Fig. 2.

The breech frame 1 is provided with a passageway 55 through which the moving blocks on the lower span of the upper chain 40 and the upper span of the lower chain 47 are guided past the firing position and with another passageway 56 near the bottom of the breech frame for the return of the chain 47 and blocks that are carried thereby, the return of the upper chain 40 being over the top of the breech frame 1.

The breech frame 1 is recessed above and below the passageway 55 to form. cavities 57 in which are disposed rollers 58 that are journaled by means of ball bearings 59 on transverse pins 59'. 7

Four of the rollers 58 are herein shown as disposed above, and four disposed below the passageway 55 in such position that they will engage with and support the blocks 53 in close contact with each other as the blocks pass through the firing position. Obviously Ill any number of rollers other than the number shown may be used.

The arms 41 and 42 extend outwardly past the pivots 43 and 44 and have idlers journaled in the outer ends thereof, which idlers are provided with equally spaced semicircular peripheral recesses 61 and serve as guides for ammunition belts 62 wherein are carried equidistantly spaced shells or cartridges 63.

The outer end of the arm 41 preferably has guide members 49 projecting outwardly therefrom that serve to guide the belts 62 into the correct position on the idlers 60.

The ammunition belts 62 may be folded in overlapping relation and stored in an ammunition box 64, see Fig. 2, that is carried by a bracket 65 which may be formed integral with the arm 41 or otherwise rigidly secured to the breech frame 1 so that it will move therewith.

The ammunition belts are preferably constructed of two layers of material, as tough paper or fabric, that are placed one upon the other and formed with equidistantly spaced loops 66 for the reception of the shells 63, the two layers being cemented or glued together between the loops.

Each end of each belt 62 is formed into a loop by leaving one of the layers of material from which the belt is constructed shorter than the opposite layer and then doubling the end of the longer layer back onto itself and cementing it in the proper position, the portion that forms the loop being slotted as shown in Fig. 5 to leave alternate loop sections 67 and spaces 68 and the slots on one end of each belt being in line with the loops on the opposite end so that when it is desired to secure two belts together the end loop portions 67 of the respective belts may be dovetailed in an obvious manner and a shell inserted as a key. 7

The recoil of the gun is utilized to pump water through the cooling chambers and the me hanism for producing this water circulation comprises a pump cylinder 70 secured on a platform 71 that is integral with or fixedly secured to the rotatable base block 8.

he pump cylinder is provided with a re ciprocable piston 72 that is connected with a piston rod 73 that is secured to a plate 74 that is rigidly connected with the movable carriage 4.

A helical compression spring 75 is interposed between the plate 74 and the end of the pump cylinder 70 to move the carriage 4 away from the pump cylinder 70 after it has been moved toward the pump cylinder by the recoil of an explosion.

From the above description it will be seen that the carriage 4 will be reciprocated once each time a shot is fired thus imparting a complete reciprocation to the piston 72 within the pump cylinder 7 O.

The pump cylinder 70 is connected through a pipe 76 and check valve 77 with a source of supply of water as a tank 78 and is also connected by a pipe 80 and check valve 81 with a flexible pipe or hose 82 that connects with the water inlet pipe 20 of the inlet manifold 17.

The outlet pipe 30 from the discharge manifold 26 may be connected with the tank 78 by a flexible tube or hose 83.

The check valve 77 is arranged to let water flow into the cylinder 70 but to prevent it from flowing outwardly therefrom while the check valve 81 is arranged to prevent the inflow and permit the outflow of water from the cylinder 70.

From the above description it will be seen that a circulation of water from the tank 78 through the pipe 76 and check valve 77 into the cylinder 70 will be established, thence outwardly through the pipe 80, check valve 81, hose 82, and pipe 20 to the manifold 17 From the manifold 17 the water will circulate in a manner already described around the gun barrel 12 and will pass outwardly through the manifold 26 to the outlet pipe 30 and thence through the return hose 83 back to the tank 78.

The breech frame 1 is provided at a point in axial alinement with the barrel 12 with a recess 84 within which is disposed a firing pin 85, that is provided with a suitable compression spring 86 by which it is normally held in a withdrawn position so that it will not interfere with the movement of the blocks 14.

The firing pin 85 is adapted to be driven forward to explode a cap in a shell by a hammer 87 that is mounted on a pivot 88 and is urged toward the breech frame by a spring 89.

The upper end of the hammer 87 is provided with anupwardly projecting cam 90 that is adapted to be successively engaged by a plurality of cam surfa es 91 on arms 92 that are fixedly connected with and project outwardly from a disk 93 that is rigidly secured on the shaft 86.

lVhen the crank 48 is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the cam surfaces 91 will successively engage with the cam 90 on the hammer 87 and withdraw the hammer into the striking position while a shell is moving into alinement with the gun barrel 12 and the respective cams 90 and 91 are so arranged that the hammer will be released and permitted to strike the firing pin just as the shell is in axial alinement with the gun barrel thereby exploding the cap and firing the shell just at the proper instant without arresting the movement of the blocks 53.

The breech frame 1 is keyed upon the shaft 2 and the shaft 2 is provided on one end with worm wheel 94 that is adapted to be engaged by worm 95 on a shaft 96 that is journaled in brackets 97, that are secured to the carriage 4t and is provided with crank 98 by which it may be rotated to tilt the gun into any desired angular position.

The platform 71 preferably has a handle 99 secured thereto by which the gun may be rotated on the pivot 10.

In operation, the ammunition belt 62 is inserted in the gun as shown in Fig. 2. 'When it is desired to fire the gun the crank 48 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow thus causing the lower span of the chain &0 and the upper span of the chain e7 to move to the right and successively carry the cartridges 6-3 opposite the barrel 12 in which position they are discharged by the striking of the hammer 87. As the blocks 53 are carried around the sprocket wheels 37 and 45 they will approach each other and the recesses 54L will close over the shells 63 and carry the shells with them through the firing position.

The faces of the blocks 53 are serrated or ridged as indicated at 53' on each side of the recesses 5 L so that as they come between the rollers 58 they will clamp together on the belt and form a tight joint so that the force of the explosion can not blow outwardly between the blocks, and so that no sidewise movement of one block with respect to the other can be caused by the explosion.

The clamping of the ammunition belt 62 by the serrated faces 53 will tend to take up any excess length of belt that it may be necessary to provide between adjacent shell loops to insure that the recesses 54 will register with each other and with the shells 63 as the blocks carry around the sprocket wheels 37 and 5.

The loop portions 66 of the belts 62 eX- tend entirely around the shells 63 and form a packing between the walls of the chamber recesses 54 and the shells 63 while the portions of the belts 62 between the loops 66 form a packing between the adjacent faces 53 of the blocks 53 that prevents the force of the explosion from bursting the shell and blowing out between the blocks 53.

In use the gun may be rotated in a hori- Zontal plane through a complete circle and may be tilted in a vertical plane at an angle suitable to give projectiles that are being fired, the vertical angle through which the gun may be tilted being governed by the height of the shaft 2 above the base 4.

In instances where it is impossible or impracticable to use water for cooling purposes the plugs 23 and 32 in the manifolds 17 and 26 may be removed so that the suction created by the projectiles in passing outwardly through the tubular jacket 24: will draw air through the passageways 21 the desired trajectory to the.

and 22 and through the spiral passageway 14: to cool the barrel.

It will thus be seen that the cooling system herein disclosed provides for the use of either air or water as a cooling agent.

The herein described method of forming the explosion, chamber of two separate sections which open apart to release the shell enables me to dispense with all shell extracting mechanism and do away with all of the troubles of shell extraction so that if it is so desired the shells 63 may be constructed largely of paper instead of being made entirely of brass thus effecting a great saving in cost of material.

It is obvious that numerous changes in the form of construction and arrangement of parts of this gun may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I

hat I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is-- 1. In a gun, a plurality of breech-blocks formed in half-sections, said half-sections being arranged in side by side relation and secured to endless moving belts and being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks as they pass the firing position.

, 2. In a gun, a pair of endless chains, sprocket wheels upon which said chains are operatively mounted in parallel relation, a plurality of breech blocks formed in half sections, the half sections of each block being secured to the respective chains and arranged to register and form the complete block before advancing to the firing position.

3. The combination with a gun of the class described of two endless movable belts disposed in parallel relation in the same plane with their adjacent sides spaced apart, a plurality of recessed breech block half sections secured to each belt and adapted to register with corresponding half sections on the opposite belt to form a complete breech block having a firing, chamber therein, and an ammunition belt having cartridge loops at spaced intervals wherein cartridges may be placed the said blocks being adapted to close over the cartridges in said belt in the course of their travel and carry said cartridges past the firing position.

4. The combination with a gun of the class described of two endless belts disposed in parallel relation in the same plane with their adjacent sides spaced apart, means for mov-- ing said belts at the same rate of speed, aplurality of breech block half sections pivotally secured to each of said belts, each of said breech block half sections being recessed for the reception of a cartridge and the respective breech block half sections on the adjacent sides of said two belts being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks having firing chambers therein, and an ammunition belt having cartridge loops at spaced intervals wherein cartridges may be placed, the said blocks being close over the cartridges in said course of their travel and carry said cartridges past the firing position.

5. A gun of the class described comprising a breech frame that is mounted for tilting movement in a vertical plane and rotation in a horizontal plane, a gun barrel connected with said breech frame, two endless movable belts supported from said breech frame, breech block half sections carried on said belts, the blocks on. one belt being adapted to register with the blocks on the other belt to form complete breech blocks adapted to belt in the having cartridge chambers therein, an ammunition belt having loops at regularly spaced lntervals whereln cartridges may be placed, the said blocks being adapted to close over the said loops to carry the cartridges through a firing position in axial alinement with said gun barrel, and means movable in unison with said belts for exploding said cartridges when they are in.

axlal alinement with said barrel. 6. A gun of the class described, comprising a breech frame mounted for tilting movement in a vertical plane and rotary movement in a horizontal plane, said breech in parallel relation in the frame having passageways extending transversely therethrough, a gun barrel connected with the front side of said breech block, sprocket wheels carried by said breech block, a pair of endless link belts movable over said sprocket wheels and passing through the passageways in said breech frame, breech block half sections pivotally secured to said belts, said half sections each being recessed, each half section on one belt being adapted to register with a half section on the other belt to form a complete breech block having a cartridge chamber therein, an ammunition belt provided at regular intervals with loops for the reception of cartridges, means for moving said chains at the same rate of speed to cause said complete breech blocks to be successively moved into axial alinement with said barrel, rollers for supporting said breech blocks as they pass the firing position, a firing 'pin, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin, and cam devices movable in unison and adapted to release said hammer and permit it to explode a cartridge at the instant said cartridge is in axial alinement with said gun barrel.

7. The combination with a gun of the class described, of two endless belts disposed same plane with their adjacent sides spaced apart, means for moving said belts at the same rate of speed,

and a plurality of breech block half sections pivotally secured to each of said belts, each of said breech block half sections being recessed for the reception of a cartridge and the respective breech block half sections on the adjacent sides of said two belts being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks having firing chambers therein.

8. In a gun a pair of endless chains movable in parallel relation, a plurality of re cessed breech block half sections secured to each of said chains, said half sections being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks, a recessed breech frame through which said complete breech blocks are moved and rollers for supporting said blocks as they pass the firing position.

In a gun a pair of endless chains movable in parallel relation, a plurality of recessed breech block half sections secured to each of said chains, said half sections being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks, and a belt formed of a solid flat piece of material having cartridge loops that entirely envelop the sides of cartridges, said blocks being adapted to close over said belt the cartridge loops of said belt fitting within the recesses in said blocks and said belt acting as a packing between said blocks and around said cartridge.

10. In a gun a pair of endless chains movable in parallel relation, a plurality of recessed breech block half sections secured to each of said chains said half sections being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks, and a belt formed of two flat pieces of material disposed face to face with cartridge loops provided therebetween said two pieces being cemented together between said cartridge loops and said belt being adapted to act as a packing between adjacent breech block half sections as said breech block half sections close over said belt.

11. In a gun a pair of endless chains movable in parallel relation, a plurality of recessed breech block half sections secured to each'of said chains said half sections being adapted to register to form complete breech blocks, the abutting faces of said breech block half sections being provided with a plurality of interfitting serrations and a solid flat belt of flexible material provided at regular intervals with cartridge loops and adapted to feed between said blocks the said belt acting as a packing between said serrated surfaces.

Signed at Seattle, \Vashington, this 27th day of June, 1918.

VVIDLIAM F. IVATKINS. 

